Personal Protective Equipment – Using Protective Eyewear
Purpose
To guide the use of protective eyewear.
Objectives
To protect employees from splashes, spattering, spraying, or droplets of blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials.
To protect the employees’ eyes, nose, and mouth from potentially infectious materials.
To prevent occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as the HIV and hepatitis B viruses.
Equipment and Supplies
- Protective eyewear (disposable or reusable);
- Goggles (disposable or reusable);
- Face shield (disposable or reusable); and
- Masks (disposable or reusable).
Miscellaneous
Masks and eye protection devices such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields or chin-length face shields shall be worn together whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be expected.
Personal eyeglasses should not be considered as adequate protective eyewear.
Protective eyewear must have adequate side and top coverage and must fit the employee properly.
Hands should be washed before and after removal of protective eyewear.
Procedure Guidelines
- Put on eyewear, goggles, mask, or face shield per manufacturer’s instructions.
- Adjust the eyewear to fit properly.
- Dispose of or clean eyewear as applicable.
- Dispose of masks in a designated container.
- Wash hands after removing the mask and eyewear.